CONEY ISLAND, N.Y.—A 36-year-old man faces serious charges after allegedly attempting to abduct a six-year-old boy over the weekend. Jonathan Robalino is accused of snatching Rah Shem “Rah Rah” Gantt while the child was out for an evening stroll with his parents on Sunday night.
At Robalino’s arraignment on Tuesday, his attorney, Sarah Burleson, argued that her client is in need of psychiatric care rather than incarceration. She pointed out that surveillance footage related to the incident contradicts some claims made about Robalino’s actions during the encounter.
According to reports, the child’s father described an alarming scene in which Robalino allegedly threw the boy to the ground when confronted, raising concerns that Rah Rah might have hit his head on the pavement. However, Burleson contested this assertion, stating in court that the video evidence shows the boy did not make such contact with the ground.
The incident reportedly occurred around 10 p.m. at the intersection of Stillwell and Surf avenues, prompting a frantic response from the boy’s family. Sharon Robinson, Rah Rah’s mother, recounted how her son’s screams alerted them to the unfolding situation.
Witnesses noted that Robalino was dressed in dark clothing, including a distinctive black hat, at the time of the alleged kidnapping. The situation escalated until Rah Rah’s father intervened, apprehending Robalino until law enforcement arrived to take control of the situation.
Robalino has been charged with attempted kidnapping, assault, attempted assault, harassment, and endangering the welfare of a child. During the proceedings, Burleson highlighted that her client has no prior criminal history and emphasized the need for him to receive proper mental health treatment.
She suggested that a supervised release would be more appropriate than continued detention, arguing that it would allow Robalino to receive necessary psychiatric care. However, the presiding judge, recognizing the gravity of the allegations, set bail at $25,000 in cash or $50,000 in bond, with a scheduled court appearance for Friday.
This case has drawn significant attention, given the shocking nature of the alleged crime and the potential consequences for both the accused and the young victim involved.
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